The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-11-02


breakfast, and others. to arrange the pacl 8
preparatory to a march. The horses had
been hobbled, but left at large to Craze
upon the adjacent pasture. Mr.. S, was
on the bank of river, at short
distance from the camp, when he heard
the alarm cry-"Indians! Indians Ito
arms to arns!"
A mounted Crow galloped past the
camp. bearing red flag. He reined his
steed on the summit of neighborng
knoll, and waved his flaring banner. A
diabolical yell now broke forth on the
camp, beyond where the horses were
grazing, and small troop of savages
came galloping up, whooping and max
ing a terrific clamor. The horses took
fright. and dashed across the camp in
the direction of the standard-bearer, at
tracted by his wavinr flag He Instant
" put spurs to his steed, and secured oil,
followed by the panic striken herd, their
flight being increased by the yells OF the
savages in the rear.
At the first alarm Mr.. s., and his COM
rades has seized their rifles, and attempts
ed to cut off tho Indians, who were pur-
suing the horses. Their attention was
instantly distracted by whoops and yells
in an OF pcsite direction. They now ap-
pretended. that reserve party was
about to carry of their baggage. They
ran TO secure it. The reserve party,
however, galloped by, whooping and
yelling in triumph and derision. The
last of them proved to be their COM
mander. He was not cast in the stern
poetical mould of fashionable Indian
heroism, but on the contrary, was
grevously given to vulgar jocularity.
| As he passed Mr.. Stuart and his COM
| panious, he checked his horse, raised
himself in the saddle, and clapping his
hand on the most insulting part of his
body, uttered some jeering words, which
fortunately for their delicacy they could
not understand. The rife of Ben Jones
was levelled in an instant, and he was on
the point of whizzing bullet into the
target so tauntingly displayed. Not
for yonr life not for your life !" exclaim-
ed Mr.. Stuart, "you will bring destruction
on us all !"
1t was hard 10 restrain honest Ben,
when the mark was SO fair and the in-
suit so foul. "Oh, Mr.. Stuart,.' exclaim-
ed he, "onlv let me have a crack at
the Internal rascal, and you may keep all
the pay that is due to me-"
"By heaven, if yot: fire." cried Mr..
Stuart, al blow your brains out"
By this time the Indian was far out
of reach and had rejoined his men, and
the whole dare. deril band, with the cap
tured horses. scuttled off along the def
les, their red flag Haunting overhead,
and the rocks echoing to their whoops
and yells, and demoniac laughter.
The unhorsed travellers gazed after
them in silent modification and despair
yet Mr.. Stuart could not but admire the
style and spirit with which the whole ex
plot had been managed, and pronounce
ed it tne of the most daring and intrepid
actions he had ever heard of among In
dians. The whole number Of the Crows
did not exceed twenty. In this way a
small gang of lurkers will hurry off the
cavalry of a large war party, foI when
once drove of horses are seized with q
panic, they become frantic, and nothing
short of broked necks can stop them.
No one was more annoyed by this un'
fortunate occnrance than Ben Jones. He
declared he would actually have given
his whole arrears of pay. amounting to
upwards of years wages, rather than
be baked of such a capital shot. Mr.
Stuart, however, represented what might
have been the consequence of 80 rash IN
act. Life for life is the Indian maxim
The whole tribe would have made com
mon cause in avenging the death of 6
warrior. The party were but seven dis
mounted men, which wide mountain
region to traverse, infested by these peo
pie, and which might all be reused b,
signal fires. In fact. the conduct of the
band of marauders in question. showed
the perseverance of sayages when once
they have fixed their minds upon pro
iect. These follows had evidently beer
silently and secretly dogging the part,
for week past, and distance of I
numbered and fifty miles, keeping out o
sight by day, lurking about the encamp
,, ment at night, watching all their move
, ments, and waiting for favorable mo
: ment when they should be off thei
guard"
? THE CAMPAIGN.